Imagine what it would be like to have your loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability in a safe and supportive residence, to know they’re surrounded by people who care about them and are trained to assist them in reaching their fullest potential. That’s what GoodLife’s residential services can provide for those we serve. We offer several residential options that are designed to support the unique needs of each individual.
In this blog, we’ll explain our different residential services and who gets to decide what program your loved one will be placed in. You’ll learn about available options and how our comprehensive application process allows us to get to know each individual and their family before deciding on the best placement.
What are the options for residential services?
GoodLife currently offers three residential service models for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The best type for your loved one will depend on their needs and preferences.
Neighborhood Network
Our Neighborhood Network is a community-based service model that offers semi-independent adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities a safe place to live independently with assistance when they need it. This unique service model combines a well-selected neighborhood with professional next-door neighbors and iLink Technologies to create a safe, inclusive living space.
Family Teaching Model
The Family Teaching Model uses a range of staffing strategies to accommodate the various support needs of people who live in the home. Most Family Teaching Model residences are duplexes where individuals with disabilities live on one side, and the Family Teacher lives on the other. In this model, additional direct support staff will have shifts in the home in order to help the Family Teachers and provide care when the Family Teacher is off duty. The Family Teaching model is unique because the Family Teacher’s families often become integrated with the home, sharing meals with our individuals served and going into the community—or even on vacation— together.
Shared Living Model
In the Shared Living Model (also known as Professional Family Teaching Model), an individual lives with a carefully screened and trained host family in their nurturing home environment. This living arrangement is driven by relationships that have often already been built between an individual served and the caregivers who know them well and as a result it provides a safe, comfortable, long-term home environment that encourages independence and fosters community. GoodLife’s Shared Living Model delivers consistent and stable support, which improves an individual’s quality of life.
Who gets to decide what program my loved one will be placed in?
Choosing residential services is an important decision, and we want the program selected to be the right fit for each individual, based on their unique needs and preferences. Our comprehensive application process allows us to get to know each person and their family so we can help them find the best living arrangement.
During the process, we identify what supports your loved one needs to live as independently as possible. From there, we work collaboratively with you to determine the best residential services for the individual. Our objective is to ensure that each person is in a setting where they will be happy, successful, and have the support needed to thrive.
Final Thoughts
We know you have options when looking for residential services, so thanks for trusting GoodLife to help you identify the ideal choice for your loved one. It’s our mission to make a meaningful difference in your loved one’s life.
This blog post is part of our series on the top questions we receive from applicants about GoodLife’s residential services. In this series you can learn more about the financial part of services and when you’re loved on can move into residential services.
If you have additional questions or would like more information, please contact Nichole Reiske, GoodLife’s Director of Admissions, at nicholereiske@mygoodlife.org, 913-980-8135. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get each of our blog posts delivered right to your inbox.
